My little Snow Pea passed away.

[AllyOops!]

I've been wanting to start this Thread for quite sometime, but I never had enough time & wasn't sure I was ready yet.

I just wanted to let those who were so kind and concerned about my little snow pea (my sweet baby girl Labrador Retriever) that she passed away on November 14th. Your prayers and kind wishes really helped me through such a difficult time.

As you may remember, I posted that she was going to undergo surgery to remove her front left limb (the little arm she used to wave "bye-bye" with) due to a rapidly growing cancerous tumor. The surgery was an amazing success (even though it broke my heart to visit her in the hospital and see her struggling to balance and all shaved and stitched. Still, she was the most beautiful little girl in the world). Within 2 days, she was walking again, and a week later she was hopping up on my bed and running. Her Doctor was thrilled, and so was the staff. I had my little girl back! She was pain free and such a happy little pea pod.

However, a month later, on a Thursday evening, she developed a cough. I stayed up with her through the night, cuddling her and soothing her, and Friday morning, I was very, very worried when she wouldn't take her breakfast (she LOVED to eat). Also, she went outside that morning, leaving the comfort of the house to lay out in the cold. I panicked, because I do know that when animals know they are gravely ill, or going to die, they will leave their home in a way unlike other times they leave to go outside.

An appointment was immediately made to take her to the hospital, where they ran numerous tests and x-rays. She was filling up with fluid, so they drained my little sweet pea. By Saturday morning, she was filling up twice as fast. They removed her fluid, and by Sunday morning her Doctor broke the news that there was nothing more they could do for her. He wasn't sure she would even make it through the night. However, she was pain free and comfortable, plus on plenty of medication. She had just lost her spirit. She could no longer walk or wag her tail. She no longer reacted to anything. I cannot explain, but she seemed ready to leave her poor little body.

On Monday morning I went to say goodbye. My little angel had become so swollen she couldn't move. Her little face and tiny neck...she was just so swollen. She followed me with her eyes but had clearly lost her will to live. I tried my best not to cry, although impossible (she always got so worried when I cried and would lick my tears off of my face). I told her that I loved her with all of my heart & Soul, and that soon she was going to be playing with Doc (my late male Labrador Retriever, and her best friend) and Chris, my late boyfriend (who adopted her with me).

I struggled with the choice to euthanize, but knew that just like always, she counted on me to protect her and never let her hurt. She was dying so rapidly.

Her Doctor is amazing. He counseled me for almost an hour as we sat petting her and told me that I gave her an amazing life and that I truly did everything I could to save her life (she was almost 14 years old and still so puppyish, which is amazing for a Labby). She was supposed to begin chemo that very Monday morning. This all happened between very late Thursday night, and Monday morning.

After performing her autopsy (as a courtesy to give me closure and give them a better understanding) he stressed to me that while he thought I made the best decision for her, after seeing her condition with his own eyes it was the only decision I could have made. The cancer, while rare, had spread from her bones into her chest and lungs. It was one of the most agressive and rapid spreading cancers he had seen.

I'm lonely now. My baby girl was my world. She was my child. She had a little pink fuzzy purse with the word "Princess" written across it that she loved to carry. It now sits on my bed. As does her "baby" (a little plush black Labrador that looked just like her that she always snuggled with.)

I'm so sorry, I had no intention of typing so much. Once I started letting my feelings flow, it seems the keys took over on their own.

Once again, thank you so much for all of your wonderful sentiments & concern. You always have a remarkable way of letting the light shine into my darkest moments.

I miss you, Sammi (a.k.a Bobo, Little Bo Peep, little snow pea, little pea pod).